Women of Revpar Media: Stories Behind the Work
Left to right: Olive Thompson, Mallory Patorno, Paulina Medrano, Fiona Chow, Rachel Park, Alana Kumar.
Throughout March, we celebrate Women’s History Month. To honor the women on our team, we’re sharing their perspectives on travel, PR, and female empowerment. We hope you enjoy meeting the team and getting a look behind the curtain at what makes us tick.
What first interested you in working in PR, media, or the travel and hospitality space?
In reflecting on the significance of this month, we wanted to take a step back and understand what drew our team into the world of hospitality and communications in the first place.
For Fiona Chow, who has been a Project Manager at Revpar Media for just over three and a half years, it was simple: she enjoyed travel. This isn’t surprising, considering that in the last 18 months, Fiona has visited 30+ countries - a true embodiment of the work that we do in hospitality PR. For her, working in this industry has “revealed how much care and effort the team takes to anticipate your needs.” Fiona’s high attention to detail and strong memory make her especially well-suited to do just that: anticipate needs and create memorable guest experiences. Her favorite part is “knowing that my work inadvertently curates a positive guest experience;” and we know it is.
For others, the path into hospitality wasn’t as obvious at first. Olive Thompson, Revpar Media’s Content Strategist (and in-house hospitality photography expert), discovered her interest through collaborating with small business owners. She shared that this experience helped her in “learning how to navigate both the creative and corporate sides of the industry.”
Who is one woman who has inspired or influenced you?
Whether professionally, personally, or somewhere in between, the women who uplift others are often the driving force behind meaningful progress. The hospitality world is full of individuals who champion one another, and our team is no exception.
Alana Kumar, Revpar Media’s Head Designer and resident Canadian, has experienced that support firsthand. She shared that “Lydia Millen, a wonderful creator from [the] UK, really took a chance on me” and even helped her secure her current role with Revpar Media. She cites Indie Lee as another woman who championed her work.
Revpar Media’s Director of Commercial Strategy, (and New Orleans local) Mallory Patorno, also credits several mentors who have influenced her path. One of the most impactful came from outside the hospitality space during her first role in Digital Strategy. “As my first Director in a post-collegiate world, Callie Freese encouraged me to learn and lead. She watched me think outside the box and empowered me, as a 22-year-old in a startup environment, to creatively develop business solutions that also kept the lights on for the business.” Mallory’s experience is a reminder that the skills developed in one environment often shape how we show up in every aspect of our careers.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to women starting their careers today?
Starting a career, or stepping into a new industry, can feel daunting. Our team shared advice grounded in action, curiosity, and confidence.
For those facing decision paralysis, Alana’s advice is to “Just start right away. Don’t wait, don’t pause, just go for it!” She also suggests cold calling as a way to get in the room where it happens.
Mallory emphasized the importance of stepping forward: “raise your hand and volunteer for opportunities - even if you don't know 100% about a topic, [because] that's how you learn and grow.” Olive echoed this mindset, sharing that “trying new things, meeting new people, and stepping outside your comfort zone can open doors you didn’t even know existed.”
Together, their perspectives highlight a common thread: growth often starts before you feel fully ready.
Now for some fun: What has been one of your favorite travel experiences or destinations so far?
Beyond the day-to-day work, travel is what connects so much of what we do, so we asked the team to share their favorite experiences.
Mallory Patorno: “Dublin, Ireland! Being confused as a native Irishwoman until I hit the pub with a hardy New Orleans 'y'all' is a memory I'll always laugh at.”
Alana Kumar: “Iceland! It wasn’t the Euro summer I was expecting (wearing puffer coats and toques in July) but it feels like another planet. The language was fascinating, the terrain was INSANE, and it really took me out of my little bubble.”
Olive Thompson: “NYC. I love to wander, and every time I visit I discover something new. I lived there for a few years in college, and it’s such a great place to bring people who are visiting for the first time. There’s always something different to explore together.”
Fiona Chow: “I spent 2 months traveling through all the Christmas markets, starting from Budapest and ending in Germany. I ate my way through all the traditional markets and drank many mugs of glühwein (mulled wine). It was beautiful to see the standard Christmas market foods, followed by area-specific food items appearing along the way.”
We’re so proud of the women behind Revpar Media, not just for the work they do, but for the perspectives, curiosity, and energy they bring to it every day.
Happy Women’s History Month!
